Influence of Organ Pathology on the Electrical Parameters in Organ Projection Areas of the Skin

Pathology of an internal organ causes significant rectification of electrical currents （diode phenomenon） in related skin areas - organ projection areas （OPAs）, once the resistance ‘breakthrough effect＇ has been induced in the skin. Also, the impedance of the diseased organ＇s projection areas is increased. The aim of this double-blind study was to confirm these phenomena statistically using a broad spectrum of measuring parameters. Skin impedance vs. measurement frequency, skin impedance vs. applied voltage, and skin resistance vs. voltage were evaluated at 335 auricular OPAs related to the healthy internal organs and 203 auricular OPAs related to the diseased organs. These measurements confirmed that the skin electrical characteristics of specific locations are dependent on the health state of the corresponding internal organs. It was found that the impedance of OPAs corresponding to the healthy internal organs equals 185 ＋ 291 k,Q at 10Hz and decreases to 64 ± 49 kΩ at 10kHz; and that the impedance of OPAs related to the diseased organs equals 7.5 ± 2.2 MΩ at 10Hz and 99 ± 50kΩ at 10kHz. The disparity of the impedances between the healthy and diseased organs related OPAs is greater at higher potentials. The skin resistance, when measured with a negatively polarized point electrode, undergoes a rapid resistance decrease of approximately two orders of magnitude, if the applied current is sufficient. After this reversible ‘breakthrough effect＇ is obtained the skin exhibits rectification. The degree of rectification is low for OPAs related to the healthy organs. For OPAs related to the diseased organs, the resistance measured with a positive polarisation of measuring electrode could be five times greater than the resistance measured at the same voltage with the same but negatively polarised electrode. The disparity between the resistance measured with a negatively and with a positively polarised electrode at OPAs related to the diseased organs was greater at higher measurement voltages. The influence of organ pathology on the electrical parameters of related OPAs does not depend on the kind of internal organ and is not affected by the etiology of pathology. The degree of rectification or difference in impedance is proportional to the extent of the pathological process within the related organ.

Localization of Auricular Projection Area of the Liver and Its Use in the Monitoring of Viral Hepatitis

Background： Pathology of an internal organ causes significant rectification of electrical currents （diode phenomenon） in related skin areas once the resistance ＇breakthrough effect＇ has been induced in the skin. Objective： Localization of auricular projection area of the liver and evaluation of its usefulness in the monitoring of viral hepatitis. Design, Patients and Setting： Comparative study of the degree of electrical rectification measured at various spots in the auricular concha region, in 19 inpatients with hepatitis B and 15 clinically healthy volunteers, at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Provincial Teaching Hospital, Tychy, Poland. Intervention： Evaluation of electrical rectification at various spots on the auricular concha using a ＂rectification ratio＂ that quantifies the degree of rectification （normal range： 0-60%）. Main outcome measure： The location of the skin area where a statistically significant difference existed between the rectification ratios was observed in patients （82±12% at the time of the ＇peak period＇） versus controls （42±8%）. Results： A location was identified on the ear auricle where the electrical rectification phenomenon demonstrated a dependence on the presence of hepatitis. Conclusions： Liver projection area exists on the ear auricle which is located within the region of cymba conchae, next to anthelix and the cavity of concha. The existence of viral hepatitis causes this skin area to show a higher degree of electrical rectification once the skin resistance ＇breakthrough effect＇ has been induced. Evaluation of the rectification phenomenon of the liver proiection area provides a method of non-invasive monitoring of viral hepatitis.